| This study investigates perceptions of corruption in the Romanian civil service and the factors that facilitate these perceptions. While most of the literature treats administrative corruption as a principal-agent problem between the state and government employees, this study employs social capital theory to investigate the roots of corruption within dysfunctional social capital. Moreover, most empirical research on corruption undertakes cross-country analysis to explain variance in perceived corruption ratings based on economic, political, and social indicators. However, the conditions underlying such indicators are difficult to change. This study is a survey-oriented analysis which attempts to identify specific causes and correlates of corruption in attitudes, behaviors and administrative institutions---all more possible to change than broad social conditions. Both primary and secondary data are used in this research. A total of three data sets document perceptions of ethics and corruption in the civil service and cover more than 1,200 experts, elected officials and civil servants. The quantitative analysis employs logistic regression and path analysis with structural equation modeling in order to detect the primary correlates of elected officials' and civil servants' perceptions of corruption.;The qualitative analysis suggests that the cultural and historical legacy of the Communist regime resulted in general apathy and dysfunctional social capital in Romania. A weak sense of loyalty to organized society and a lack of civic virtue bred a vicious cycle of corruption in the civil service. The quantitative analysis of elected officials' data reinforces this finding by showing that civil servants' lack of morality and citizens' un-civic behavior are significant correlates of perceived corruption. Moreover, elected officials who perceive the most corruption are also the ones who are most skeptical of the current centralized civil service structures. The civil servants who perceive the most administrative corruption within the civil service are also the ones who perceive the most corruption in the country. The perceived quality of human resource management in the civil service, especially in the areas of recruitment and retention, reward and recognition, and employee empowerment all prove to be significant correlates of perceived corruption. Moreover, civil servants' responses point to a lack of leadership support and of a clear mission as obstacles to administrative ethics. Finally, age has a significant negative effect on civil servants' perceptions of corruption. It seems likely that older individuals, socialized by the Communist system of dysfunctional social capital, are more accepting of present-day corrupt practices. Contrary to literature stereotypes about civil service pay in transition countries, this study suggests that remuneration is not a major factor in ethical behavior, but that other human resource reforms, including merit-based employment practices and worker empowerment would likely raise the quality and integrity of civil servants. Moreover, elected officials' data suggest that decentralizing civil service management is likely to foster leadership on many of these issues.;Finally, this study indicates that people's perceptions of corruption are influenced by what is considered widespread and approved behavior in the society. Therefore, anyone wishing to diminish corruption should particularly attempt to shape civic attitudes, using education, television campaigns and other approaches to help citizens see that honesty is more widespread than they might believe. This also suggests that the government needs to aggressively publicize its anticorruption efforts, because this will lead to a greater reservoir of positive social capital. |
